An
interesting discussion with Mariette Castellino sparked the
thought: How do people make use of their metaphors and
symbols once they’ve identified them?

This
is such a natural thing for us to do that we had not appreciated the
extent to which some people can develop a metaphor but then do not know
what to do with it. They do not naturally link their
metaphors to changing behaviour or perception in their everyday life.

We
decided to find out what was happening. We have begun by investigating
how people who ARE aware of utilising their metaphors do
this. And this topic will be the focus of the October 5th
Developing Group day.

As
research material for the morning, please bring examples of when you
(or a client) have consciously made use of a self-generated metaphor.
We are not referring to the use of metaphor simply as a descriptive
tool; rather how you (or clients) have consciously applied a previously discovered personal metaphor to an aspect of your life.

To make a decision, e.g. utilise a symbolic decision-making strategy or use a metaphor as a value or criteria to be met.

As a signal or awareness indicator,
e.g. when a metaphor is remembered as a signal to notice or do
something (such as Caitlin's work with teenager with anger problems)

As a common language, e.g. a couple using their metaphors to resolve a conflict in the relationship.

As a framework for thinking, e.g. a metaphor to help categorise information or act as a checklist.

As a problem-solving process, e.g. using the metaphor to identify new solutions.

To help create a design,
e.g. using a metaphor as part of a logo or marketing material (such as
our arc’s, waves & arrows incorporated in to The
Developing Company logo. See also Like a Kid in a Sweet Shop).

To spark creativity, e.g. to generate new ideas or ways of perceiving a situation.

As a planning tool, e.g. the metaphor helps to sequence events and to identify critical milestones.

To capture a vision or desired outcome,
e.g. the metaphor is invoked to remind a group of the desired outcome
and to keep it in mind during a discussion, meeting, or over a longer
time period (such as used by Health South USA and the Metaphor and
Clean Langiage Research Group).

As a time-management tool, e.g. using a metaphor to remind oneself to keep track of time so that discussions and meetings finish as planned.

To support the healing process, e.g. visualising/meditating on a metaphor for strengthening the immune system (such as the examples in Mind, Metaphor and Health).

Although
we want you to describe the metaphor and the context in which it was
utilised, we are most interested in HOW you (or others) did
that. The fundamental questions we are attempting to answer
are:

HOW does a person translate a metaphorical representation into a behaviour?

HOW does a metaphor get applied over a period of time?

HOW does a metaphor identified in one context get transferred and utilised in another context?

In
all these cases we are interested in when you were aware of using a
metaphor to influence your actions, perceptions or state. We
recognise that metaphors often have an out-of-awareness influence which
we only realise later and that it is possible to make use of other
people’s metaphors (this is commonly known as
education). Fascinating as these are, neither of these is
part of our remit for the day.

So bring your examples to the group, and we’ll compare notes and draw conclusions.

See you on Saturday,

James and Penny

Examples from participants:

A
and his partner created a metaphor for the quality/health of their
relationship which was used to measure the relationship and to assess
how it progresses over time.

B
discovered a metaphor for “Where I am” which was
under her feet. By attending to this place she was not nervous before
giving a training anymore.

C found a metaphor of a fan that opened one segment at a time. This gave her a way to be conscious of the changes she was making.

D discovered
her “Rhythm of Life” and the point where rhythm
changes from singing to non-singing (which represented her losing
patience with people). Now she can catch the point, she can
be aware of it happening and be more accepting that
“that’s life” which increased her
patience!

E has
a map of a "connection that jolts me back to a fear state”
(an old idea of herself). When this happens she now knows she just has
to put the connection down to regain her confidence.

Penny Tompkins & James Lawley

Penny and James are supervising neurolinguistic psychotherapists – registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy since 1993 – coaches in business, certified NLP trainers, and founders of The Developing Company.They have provided
consultancy to organisations as diverse as GlaxoSmithKline, Yale
University Child Study Center, NASA Goddard Space Center and the
Findhorn Spiritual Community in Northern Scotland.